Sports
Whitgift has a ‘sport for all’ philosophy, with 40 different sports available through to the top schoolboy level, and an exceptional range of teams competing each week.
Whitgift's leading position nationally is the result of superb levels of coaching with many former professional sports players working alongside qualified teachers to generate a unique school environment.
Awards, Honours & Achievements
Whitgift's reputation for sporting excellence was underlined when Whitgift was declared Independent School of the Year at the Daily Telegraph-Aviva School Sport Matters Awards in 2010, and again in 2011. In 2009 and 2011, Whitgift was named the Independent School of the Year by School Sport magazine. Whitgift also picked up the Good Schools Guide Award for the best results at BTEC National Diploma achieved by boys taking Sports Science.
Whitgift is the only British school to win boys’ national titles in all four of the major team sports, rugby, football, hockey and cricket, in the same year. National trophies are also won in many other sports, and the list of boys representing their country is unparalleled in its breadth.
The School has reached five national finals at Twickenham. Having twice won the U15 Daily Mail cup, the 1st XV won the ERFSU Daily Mail/RBS U18 Cup in 2010 and most recently joined an elite group of schools, by retaining the prestigious title once again in 2011.
Since 2005, Whitgift hockey teams have reached 38 national finals (indoor and outdoor) securing 16 national titles across every age group and format of the game. The 1st XI joined an elite group of schools by lifting the national outdoor titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014, with a historic indoor and outdoor double in the 2013 season.
Football teams have also had incredible success winning national titles across all age groups regularly. The U13s have won the Investec ISFA National Title in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 – a record that will stand for a very long time. The team have played 29 games, winning all 29, scoring 178 goals and conceding 13 goals.
The School has also presented the Whitgift Festival of County Cricket for Surrey CCC, with their Academy training at the School in 2010. Whitgift hosted its first-ever Test Match between West Indies A and India A. In July 2011, again for the first time, Whitgift hosted a T20 fixture which was broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Sports teams regularly tour internationally, to countries including New Zealand, Australia, the West Indies, South Africa, Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia.
Sporting links have also been established in many other countries, including Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Romania, Singapore, Spain and the USA.
Distinguished sportsmen educated at Whitgift in recent years have included Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, Melbourne Rebels, London Wasps, England), Marland Yarde (Quins, London Irish, England), Victor Moses (Stoke City, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Wigan Athletic FC, Crystal Palace FC, Nigeria Rio De Janeiro 2014), Jason Roy (Surrey CCC, England ODI and T20), Elliot Daly (London Wasps, England Saxons, Barbarians), Lawrence Okoye (NFL 49ers, British Olympic discus finalist and record holder), Bertrand Traore (Chelsea FC, Vitesse Arnhem, Burkina Faso National Team), Adam Thompstone (Leicester Tigers, London Irish), Richard Thorpe (London Welsh, Leicester Tigers, London Irish), Mark Foster (Jersey, Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester), Matthew Spriegel (Northamptonshire CCC, Surrey CCC), Tom Lancefield (Surrey CCC), Dominic Sibley (Surrey CCC, England U19s), Jack Winslade (Surrey CCC), Freddie van den Bergh (Surrey CCC), Lee Hills (Crystal Palace FC), Troy Brown (Aldershot Town FC, Ipswich Town FC), Lorcan Dow (Ulster RFC, Ireland U20s), Luca Petrozzi (Italy U20s), Frankie Taggart (Ulster RFC, Ireland U20s), George Merrick (Quins, England U20s), Stan South (Quins, England U18s), Henry Cheeseman (Quins, England U18s, England 7s), Will Robinson (London Welsh, England U18s), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Jamie Stevenson (London Wasps, London Scottish, Scotland U20s), Matt Gallagher (Saracens, England U18s).
Facilities
Whitgift boasts a superb state-of-the-art £9m Sports and Conference Centre. It is one of the finest in a British independent school and boasts exceptional facilities for a wide range of sports, together with teaching, exhibition and conference rooms. The Centre is regularly used by professional sports teams and national governing bodies.
Whitgift's Health & Fitness Centre, with its extensive 55-station gym and group exercise studio, is used exclusively by the School throughout the week. The facility, which rivals private health clubs, also offers private membership to 'Friends of Whitgift' during the evening and at weekends.